Elise moved to Bellevue with her family when she was in middle school. She spoke no English. She was smart and hard-working and by the time she reached high school she had graduated out of her ESL classes.
As a senior at Sammamish High School, Elise learned about the Overlake Service League college scholarship program. Money was a concern for her family, so she applied. She was honored when they awarded her a scholarship for $500, enough to pay for one quarter of her freshman year tuition. Elise remarked, “I felt so encouraged by this scholarship. I felt that people believed in me.”
Elise finished her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington and went on to graduate school at the University of Michigan. A career in Global Logistics & Distribution (International shipping) in Seattle followed.
Fast forward to 2016. Elise, once again a Bellevue resident, now with three children of her own, heard about the Bellevue LifeSpring luncheon. She was interested in learning more about the organization and decided to attend. During the luncheon, Elise made the connection…Bellevue LifeSpring was Overlake Service League’s new name. This was the group that had believed in her enough to help fund her education.
Since that time, Elise has continued to learn about and support Bellevue LifeSpring. She became a table captain for the 2017 Step Up to the Plate Benefit Luncheon and invited a group of her friends and colleagues to join her. She is now thinking about starting a new membership circle as a way to give back to the organization that gave her so much.
When asked why she has chosen to support Bellevue Life Spring, Elise explained, “When I attended the luncheon last year, I was impressed to see a community group that is devoted to serving the needs of Bellevue residents specifically. As I’ve been involved and learned more, I am so touched by the support of this community to show our students how much people care about their future.”
